Data from: Pre-laying movements of Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) in the Central Mediterranean [2012-2014]

Metzger B, Lago P, Gatt MC. 2019. Data from: Pre-laying movements of Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) in the Central Mediterranean [2012-2014]. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.66n12c36

Abstract

The pre-laying exodus (PLE) is considered a crucial period in the breeding biology of Procellariiformes as it determines the success of egg production within a season and, therefore, a population’s reproductive output. However, it has scarcely been studied compared to other stages of the annual cycle. Here we present the first pre-laying tracks of the vulnerable Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) through the Global Positioning System tracking of birds breeding on the Maltese islands in the Central Mediterranean, and compare PLE core utilisation areas to known areas used during the chick-rearing period. Females spend, on average, 13 days foraging during egg development, reaching an average maximum distance of 325.5 km from their breeding colony to forage at offshore areas mainly south of the Maltese islands; these journeys are of longer duration and cover a greater distance than those undertaken by males, and by females that are not developing an egg, during the same period. There is little to no overlap between the PLE core utilisation areas and those used during chick-rearing by the same populations. This confirms our expectations that the PLE differs from foraging trips undertaken outside of the egg development period. Our results highlight the need for more research into the factors attracting egg-producing females to the PLE foraging areas and the importance of trans-boundary marine protection for the conservation of vulnerable seabirds.

Keywords

Puffinus yelkouan,animal movement,animal tracking,Maltese Islands,Mediterranean Sea,movement ecology,pre-laying exodus,Procellariformes,Puffinus yelkouan,seabirds,yelkouan shearwaters

Taxa

Taxon

Puffinus yelkouan

Yelkouan Shearwater

Sensors

Sensor

GPS

DOIs of related Publications

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-019-01646-x

URI

https://datarepository.movebank.org/handle/10255/move.863

BibTex

@misc{001/1_66n12c36,
  title = {Data from: Pre-laying movements of Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) in the Central Mediterranean [2012-2014]},
  author = {Metzger, B and Lago, P and Gatt, MC},
  year = {2019},
  URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.66n12c36},
  doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.66n12c36},
  publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
ID  - doi:10.5441/001/1.66n12c36
T1  - Data from: Pre-laying movements of Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) in the Central Mediterranean [2012-2014]
AU  - Metzger, Benjamin
AU  - Lago, Paulo
AU  - Gatt, Marie Claire
Y1  - 2019/04/12
KW  - Puffinus yelkouan
KW  - animal foraging
KW  - animal movement
KW  - animal tracking
KW  - Maltese Islands
KW  - Mediterranean Sea
KW  - movement ecology
KW  - pre-laying exodus
KW  - Procellariformes
KW  - Puffinus yelkouan
KW  - seabirds
KW  - yelkouan shearwaters
KW  - Puffinus yelkouan
PB  - Movebank data repository
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.66n12c36
DO  - doi:10.5441/001/1.66n12c36
ER  -

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